Refrigerator shelf



May 23, 1939. c. H. NAUERT REFRIGERATOR SHELF Filed Dec. 12, 1936 I lll'l v INVENTOR.

MQM

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 23. 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,159,601 nnrmcnaaroa SHELF Carl H. Nauert, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 12, 1936, Serial No. 115,456

Claims.

5 which: I

Fig. 1 shows a refrigerator having a. shelf embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the shelf alone;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a. modification; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Refrigerator shelves must be of open work structure to permit circulation of air in the refrigerator compartment and are usually removable for cleaning purposes. In the refrigerator Ill shown in Fig. l theshelves ll rest on projections such as pegs or hooks on the wall of the storage compartment. One of the shelves II is shown -in Figs. 2 and 3 and comprises a marginal frame l2 formed by a wire rod bent into the form of a rectangle and tt welded at the ends. A center bar I3 is form of a length of similar wire rod butt welded at each end to the marginal frame. The wire rod forming the frame may be either round or rectangular in cross section.

This frame structure is well known in refrigerator shelves and is usually covered by a plurality of parallel wire rods, flat strips, or the like which are welded-to the frame. In accordance with my invention, however, I make a number" of stamped sheet metal elements l4 suitably formed and arranged to be snapped onto the wire rod frame. Each element It is stamped from a length of sheet metal which is turned down at a each end as at l5 and l5a in Fig. 3 and provided with slots I6 which leave strips i1 and Ila 'ance shown in United States Design Patent No.

on each side of a center strip [8 and a cross strip I! in the center of each element. A portion ofv the metal stamped out to form slots l6 may be.

retained and turned down to form clips and 2| shown in Fig. 3. The slots it are spaced so that the outside strips I! and Ila are narrower than the central strip 18 so that when anumber of elements H are arranged side by side on the frame there is obtained the rhythmic appearthe elements I are stamped is preferably thin andresilient so that the elements may be quickly and firmly secured in place as described.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is illustrated a modified shelf having a similar frame formed by a marginal rod i2 and a center rod l3. However, instead of forming separate elements as described in connection with Fig. 2, the whole frame covering is stamped from a single sheet of thin resilient metal. In this modification between each two narrow slots 22 there is formed a wider slot 23. The slots 22 are spaced slightly further from each other than from the slots 23 so that there is formed the several groups of two narrow strips 24 and 240. on each side of a wider strip 25. Center clips 26 and 260. are formed out of metal struck out of the slots 22 as previously described. All four edges of the sheet metal shelf cover are turned down as at 21 and 21a. in Fig. 5 to be snapped over the marginal frame l2. The four corners .of the sheet metal shelf cover are cut away as at 28 in Fig. 4 so that if shelf hooks are used the upturned ends of the hooks may extend through the shelf.

Various changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art wherefore my invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described but only as indicated in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A shelf for a refrigerator comprising a rod framework having side rods and'a center rod, a sheet metalcovering for said framework of resilient material stamped to provide openings for circulation of air therethrough and downturned "edges and central projections for resiliently enaging the side rods and center rod respectively of said framework. I

2 A shelf for a refrigerator comprising a frame having side rods and a center rod, a plurality of sheet metal elements of resilient material each being stamped to form openings therethrough for passage of air and downturned ends and central projections for resiliently engaging the side rods and center rod respectively of said frame. I

3. A shelf for a refrigerator comprising a shelf bodyof relatively thin material constructed to permit free air circulation within the refrigerator in which the shelf is located, a reinforcing marginal frame for said shelf body, and means operable by the mere act of assembling to positively fasten said body and frame together into a readily removable unit.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said last mentioned means includes a connection at least a portion of which is yieldable.

5. A shelf for a refrigerator comprising a shelf body of relatively thin material constructed to permit free air'circulation, a reinforcing marginal CARL H. NAUEBT. 

